NORTH 1, GROUP 3First-round games: 8-Wayne Valley at 1-Wayne Hills, Friday, 7 p.m.5-Pascack Valley (Hillsdale) at 4-High Point (Sussex), Saturday, 1 p.m.6-Paramus at 3-Ramapo (Franklin Lakes), Friday, 7 p.m.7-Mount Olive (Flanders) at 2-Northern Valley (Old Tappan), Friday, 7 p.m.Best first-round matchup: 6-Paramus at 3-Ramapo. Will Ramapo bounce back from consecutive losses to Wayne Hills and Old Tappan and keep Spartans dual-threat quarterback John Robertson under wraps? The Green Raiders struggled to contain Northern Valley's Devin Fuller in a 25-20 loss last Friday.Dark horse: Robertson alone makes Paramus a threat to reach the title game. At the very least, we like the Spartans to face Northern Valley in the semifinals.Players to watch: Fuller and Robertson are thrilling, but Wayne Hills relies on electric do-everything back Brian Dowling a great deal.Championship game: 2-Old Tappan vs. 1-Wayne HillsWinner: 1-Wayne Hills

NORTH 1, GROUP 2First-round games: 8-Mahwah at 1-River Dell (Oradell), Friday, 7 p.m.5-Pascack Hills (Montvale) at 4-Ramsey, Friday, 7 p.m.6-Wallkill Valley (Hamburg) at 3-Lakeland Regional (Wanaque), Friday, 7 p.m.7-Pequannock (Pompton Plains) at 2-Lenape Valley (Stanhope), Saturday, 1 p.m.Best first-round matchup: 5-Pascack Hills at 4-Ramsey. Ramsey, the defending champions in this section, could earn a 2009 championship-game rematch in the second round against top-seeded River Dell. However, Pascack Hills will be a tough out - the Cowboys own wins over state playoff participants Hawthorne and St. Mary's.Dark horse: Mahwah is much better than its eighth seed would indicate and only trailed top-seeded River Dell 20-13 entering the fourth quarter of an eventual 28-13 loss on Oct. 22.Player to watch:Steven Wilken, Lakeland.Championship game: 3-Lakeland vs. 1-River DellWinner: 3-Lakeland

NORTH 1, GROUP 1First-round games: 8-North Warren Regional (Blairstown) at 1-Mountain Lakes, Saturday, 1 p.m.5-Butler at 4-Hawthorne, Saturday, 1 p.m.6-Saddle Brook at 3-Cresskill, Saturday, 1 p.m.7-Emerson at 2-Wallington, Saturday, 1 p.m.Best first-round matchup: While Butler-Hawthorne is intriguing, we are wondering if Saddle Brook can exact some revenge for its lone regular-season loss, a 41-27 setback against divisional rival Wallington on Sept. 25.Dark horses: Saddle Brook only allowed 44 points in six games after falling to Wallington. Also, Emerson rolled up 35 or more points six times already.Players to watch:Charles Vellis and Criss Sullivan, Wallington.Championship game: 3-Wallington vs. 1-Mountain LakesWinner: (1) Mountain Lakes